A father who raped his teenage daughter during her pregnancy has been jailed today for 10 years.

Jennifer Berry, 43, waived her right to anonymity so that Oliver Berry, 61, could be named in any reporting of the case.

Oliver Berry was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury of 104 counts of both raping and sexually assaulting Ms Berry between December 1982 and December 1994 when she was aged between seven and 19 years old.

Berry, of Newtown Lawns Mullingar, pleaded not guilty to all offences and was convicted following a trial earlier this year. He has two previous convictions for minor offences.

He continues to maintain his innocence and Ms Berry’s mother, who has since separated from him, gave evidence in his defence during the trial.

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Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy had adjourned the case having first heard the evidence two weeks ago. The judge noted that Berry continued to rape his daughter while she was pregnant with her first child as he told the victim “the damage had now been done”.

“He continually used her for his own sexual gratification and treated her as his property,” Ms Justice Murphy said before she jailed Berry for 10 years.

The judge said she noted Berry continues to protest his innocence and plans to appeal his convictions. Ms Justice Murphy also noted she had taken into consideration Berry’s age and state of health when determining sentence.